Creepypasta refers to horror-related legends or images that have been copied and pasted around the internet, evolving into a foundational pillar of digital folklore. Originating in the mid-2000s on sites like 4chan and Something Awful, these stories gave birth to icons like Slender Man, Jeff the Killer, and Smile Dog. In meme culture, Creepypasta templates are often used to express late-night anxiety, mock overly edgy storytelling, or revisit childhood nostalgia for the era of "scary-cool" internet mysteries. The memes frequently contrast the genuine terror these stories once induced with the humorous reality of trying to sleep after reading them.